Poster sizes: Guide to A-formats, 50x70 and 70x100

It can be hard to work out whether a poster should measure 50 x 70 cm, 70 x 100 cm or one of the many A-formats. The size determines whether the poster gets lost on the wall or ends up taking up too much space above the sofa. Here you'll get an overview of the common formats, a simple rule of thumb for choosing based on the furniture, and concrete advice for grouping several posters so everything fits together.

The short answer: 50 x 70 cm is the most used size

The two Danish standard sizes, 50 x 70 cm and 70 x 100 cm, cover by far most needs in an ordinary home. 50 x 70 cm is the most used, because it fits above chests of drawers, bedside tables and smaller shelving units without looking too dominant. 70 x 100 cm is used when you have a large, empty wall or want to create a focal point above the sofa. If you need something in between or smaller, the A-formats from A4 to A1 can be a good addition, especially if you want to group several motifs in different sizes.

The shop has posters in both 50 x 70 cm and 70 x 100 cm, so you can compare motifs directly in the size you need.

Formats at a glance: A4 to A1, 50x70 and 70x100

Here are the most common poster formats with their measurements in centimetres.

The A-formats follow the ISO standard, where each format is double the size of the previous one. The Danish sizes, 50 x 70 cm and 70 x 100 cm, fall outside the A-series, but are often used because they fit well with Danish walls and furniture.

How to choose: by wall and furniture

The easiest way to choose a size is to start with the piece of furniture the poster is going to hang above. A rule of thumb is that a picture above a piece of furniture should take up about two thirds of the furniture's width. This means that a wide sofa or a large chest of drawers calls for 70 x 100 cm, while a bedside table, a narrow bookcase or a hallway console suits 50 x 70 cm or one of the smaller A formats better.

Also think about the height of the wall. A low wall above a coffee table can quickly look overcrowded with a large poster, while a tall wall in a stairwell can carry several large formats side by side.

Several posters together: same size, rows and spacing

If you want to hang several posters together, the simplest solution is to keep them the same size. Several posters in the same size look calm if they hang in a row with equal spacing between each frame. This gives an orderly look even if the motifs differ, for example if you combine a Cake poster with a Vacay Mood 03 poster in the same format.

If you'd rather vary the sizes, you can use the A formats to create a staircase effect, with the largest posters in the middle or at the bottom and the smaller ones building up around them. Motifs like the Black Hair Woman 02 poster and the Paint Pink Sky poster come in several sizes and are well suited to that kind of combination.

By room: living room, bedroom, hallway and children's room

In the living room, where the walls are often large and the furniture wide, 70 x 100 cm is a natural choice above the sofa. Here, a calm motif like the Cactus 01 poster can act as a unifying eye-catcher.

In the bedroom, where the headboard is rarely as wide as a sofa, 50 x 70 cm suits better, for example with a gentle mood like the Paint Pink Sky poster.

In the hallway, there's often only room for narrower formats. Here, A4 and A3 work well for a group of smaller posters, ideally supplemented with a Lemon poster for a fresh touch.

In the children's room, you can vary freely, as the walls rarely need to follow the same strict rules as in the living room. Here, smaller and medium formats can be mixed according to mood and space.

Practical tips: measure the wall, use paper as a template, and check the measurements

Before you order, it's a good idea to measure the wall and the piece of furniture the poster is going to hang above. Cut out a piece of paper or newspaper in the size you're considering and tape it to the wall. Then you can see how it feels in the room before you decide.

Always check the poster's exact dimensions on the product page before you order, especially if you want to combine several formats. Also remember that any frame needs to fit the poster's dimensions exactly, as a frame that's too big or too small will spoil the overall look.

Summary

Choose your poster size based on the furniture and the wall: 50 x 70 cm suits most rooms, while 70 x 100 cm is ideal for large walls. Use the rule of thumb of two thirds of the furniture's width, measure the wall with paper as a template, and always check the poster's exact dimensions on the product page before you order.

Read also

• How to hang posters
• How high should pictures hang? The ultimate guide
• Create a personal picture wall
• Wall decor: how to style your walls